Common in central and coastal Qld S of Richmond and Mackay, extending across the western plains and slopes of northern N.S.W. to Roto and near Willow Tree. Forms extensive open-forest communities usually on fertile clay and loamy clay.

While the species has been characterised regularly as pentamerous, there is a high proportion of tetramerous flowers in all the material seen. In general, the flowers are 4-merous but with a few 5-merous ones intermixed in the heads; occasionally a head with mostly pentamerous flowers can be observed. Tetramery in A.harpophylla appears not firmly entrenched but in A. argyrodendron, a species of similar general appearance, tetramery is well established.

Most closely related to A. cambagei according to L.Pedley, Austrobaileya 1: 190 (1978).

Because of its suckering habit Acaciaharpophylla is generally considered an undesirable species, especially as Brigalow lands are highly productive when cleared.